Posts for tag: Toothbrush Prevention

When was the last time that you ever gave your toothbrush any serious thought? Sure, you hopefully use it every day (and ideally twice), and you know that with just the size of a green pea of toothpaste that it shines up your teeth nicely, not to mention preventing bacteria, plaque, and inflammation from reeking havoc in your mouth!

Today, we want to focus in on the top FIVE things that you should never do with your toothbrush! Take a look.

LOCATION. Location! Location! Location! Not just important in real estate. If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, you are brushing your teeth with what's in your toilet! In other words, keep your toothbrush stored as far away from the toilet as possible.

GERMS. Not rocket science, but the average toothbrush harbors ten million microbes of bacteria! Many families keep their toothbrushes jammed together in a cup holder on the bathroom sink, but this can lead to cross-contamination. Family members' toothbrushes should be kept at least an inch apart. Don't worry, they won't take it personally!

FREQUENCY. Don't delay replacing your toothbrush. It's best to purchase a new one (including electric toothbrush heads), every three to four months, but by all means get one sooner if the bristles are broken down because of your frequent and vigorous brushing. Remember, brush longer, NOT harder to remove the bacterial film coating. The average patient only brushes for about 45 seconds, once daily, and research now shows that it takes a minimum of about two minutes of active brushing to be effective. Take the challenge and time your brushing cycle. You may be surprised! And finally, if you have a cold or the flu, replace your toothbrush after you recover.

STORAGE. Another consideration about the storage of your toothbrush is to keep it out of reach from toddlers. The last thing that you want for your toothbrush is for it to be chewed like a pacifier, dipped in toilet water, or be used to probe the dusty heating ducts.

SHARING. The phrase "sharing is caring," takes on a whole other meaning in this case! Although your parents probably taught you the importance of sharing, back when you were the one "exploring" the world with your new found toddler toy, their toothbrush, some things should never be shared, and your toothbrush is certainly one of them!